Cricket: Vettori set to step up as McMillan axed

8.00am

PORT ELIZABETH - Daniel Vettori is poised to play a big part with bat and ball as New Zealand's cricket selectors axed Craig McMillan and recalled Lou Vincent for their big World Cup match against Australia tonight (9pm New Zealand time).

Chairman of selectors Sir Richard Hadlee showed his dissatisfaction with McMillan's eight against Zimbabwe by dropping him today in the only change to the side who won by six wickets in Bloemfontein.

It left captain Stephen Fleming with the option of Vincent or Vettori to partner him at the top, but word around the camp was that Vettori would be given the job as he did against the West Indies here when he scored 13.

Vincent has scored just one and nine from two World Cup innings and was coming off a dislocated right thumb suffered 10 days ago.

Likewise with the ball, Vettori's left-arm spin could also be used in the first 10 overs, perhaps even opening alongside Shane Bond as New Zealand look to put the heat on the big three of Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden and captain Ricky Ponting.

It showed a continued willingness to use the innovation that won them three out of four games against the world champions in Australia a year ago, with a win tonight likely to seal New Zealand's semifinal place.

McMillan's World Cup scores opening the innings have been 25, 75, 14 and eight but Hadlee and fellow tour selectors Fleming and coach Denis Aberhart weren't prepared to allow him another chance.

"We're just a bit disappointed with McMillan, he missed out against Zimbabwe when we were looking for a big one on a flat track," Hadlee said.

"We're still concerned about his technique and not sure how good his confidence is either. Against Australia we need to be proactive at the top of the order, make a change.

"We feel we've got to take it to Australia, upset their gameplan and take them unawares."

The gameplan will centre around early wickets which took them to success in the VB Series, where Ponting and Damien Martyn were found wanting.

Fleming wouldn't hint at his use of Vettori but said it was no secret Bond's 150km/h-plus deliveries, which bagged him 21 wickets in Australia, were the key.

"I'd love him to knock the top off Australia and he gets good shape to left-handers at a good pace. The key to restricting them is taking wickets," Fleming said.

Another key man, Chris Cairns, would be fitness tested before play to check his ability to complete 10 overs, with his right shoulder still causing problems.

The star allrounder, who will also play a central role with the bat at No 5, took an encouraging two for 16 against Zimbabwe.

"I want him as an option, whether on that wicket he's fit enough or good enough to bowl a certain amount of overs, we'll find out tomorrow," Fleming said.

India's hammering of Sri Lanka today was the best result for New Zealand who could still finish third even if they win one of their final two matches against Australia and India.

That would mean a semifinal against India in Durban rather than the tougher task of Australia back here.

"We've had our time with the permutations and we're just looking to win games. If we win another one we may get through, but we'd love to win two," Fleming said.

Ponting was adamant his side had put New Zealand's dominance of last summer out of their minds and instead looked to the last clash between the side when Australia won by 164 runs in Colombo in September.

"There was a bit happening around the team last time in Australia. We didn't field or bowl that badly in that series, it was just the batsmen that let us down," Ponting said.

"We'll probably respect the new ball with our batting a bit more this time, we didn't do that well in the last game here."

Australia would probably field an unchanged side to that which hammered Sri Lanka for their seventh straight win of the tournament.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Daniel Vettori, Nathan Astle, Scott Styris, Chris Cairns, Lou Vincent, Brendon McCullum, Chris Harris, Jacob Oram, Andre Adams, Shane Bond.

Australia (likely): Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Michael Bevan, Ian Harvey, Brad Hogg, Brett Lee, Andy Bichel, Glenn McGrath.

Umpires: Asoka de Silva (Sri Lanka), Steve Bucknor (West Indies). Third umpire: Brian Jerling (South Africa).

- NZPA

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